Rail-type grounding terminal structure having a spring latch

Abstract

A rail-type grounding terminal structure composed of a metal grounding member and an insulating housing. The grounding member has better operation elasticity and can be easily tightly connected with a grounding rail. The grounding member includes a metal insertion leg mountable on a leaf spring mount, a bow section connected with the metal insertion leg and a first end and a second end respectively outward extending from the bow section and latched on a grounding rail. The metal insertion leg has a slightly outward deflected head end and a neck wall formed thereunder. When the metal insertion leg is mounted on the leaf spring mount, the leaf spring mount exerts a reaction force to urge the grounding member to tightly attach to lower side of the housing. Therefore, a gap is defined between the grounding member and the housing for a serviceman to separate the grounding member from the rail or connect the grounding member with the rail.

1. A rail-type grounding terminal structure for releasable coupling to opposing flanges of a grounding rail, comprising:
 an insulating housing having a plurality of receiving spaces formed therein and a foot section formed on a lower portion of one end of the insulating housing; 
 a leaf spring mounting member disposed in a first of the plurality of receiving spaces; 
 a plurality of wire connecting members respectively disposed in a plurality of second receiving spaces and being electrically coupled to the leaf spring mounting member; and 
 a grounding member disposed below the leaf spring mounting member in a third receiving space located adjacent a bottom side of the insulating housing and electrically coupled to the leaf spring mounting member, the grounding member including: 
 a pair of spaced apart insertion legs engaged with the leaf spring mounting member, each leg having a slightly outward deflected head end passing through an opening formed through the leaf spring mounting member; 
 a pair of bow sections extending upwardly in a direction toward the leaf spring mounting member and respectively disposed intermediate a corresponding one of the pair of insertion legs and respective opposing end portions of the grounding member to provide for elastic deformation of the end portions; 
 a a first bent section having a hook-shaped contour formed on one of the end portions, the hook-shaped bent section defining a groove into which a respective one of the flanges of the grounding rail is engaged, the groove having an inclined inner wall face corresponding to a distal end portion of the hook-shaped bent section to provide for pivotal displacement of the grounding member and the insulating housing therewith relative to the grounding rail; and 
 a second bent section formed on the opposing end portion, the second bent section having a protruding tongue section formed thereon for latchingly engaging the opposing flange of the grounding rail, wherein the tongue portion is displaced out of engagement with the opposing flange of the grounding rail by a respective portion of the insulating housing responsive to a corresponding displacement of the foot section using a tool engaged therewith. 
 
   
   
     2. The rail-type grounding terminal structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the grounding member is a substantially plate-shaped or bar-shaped member. 
   
   
     3. The rail-type grounding terminal structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each insertion leg further has a neck wall, the neck wall being slightly inward recessed toward a central reference axis of the grounding member and formed under an outer side of the head end of the insertion leg, the neck wall being engaged with an edge of the opening in the leaf spring mounting member. 
   
   
     4. The rail-type grounding terminal structure as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein an outer side of the head end is formed with a slope. 
   
   
     5. The rail-type grounding terminal structure as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein an outward protruding shoulder section is formed under the neck wall. 
   
   
     6. The rail-type grounding terminal structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the insulating housing has a post formed adjacent the bottom side thereof and the grounding member has a recess formed on a bottom side thereof for receiving the post therein to support the grounding member thereon.